Query: Journalling

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

And query for my flist:

Do you journal? If so, what about?

The issue is I have two daily agenda/schedule/calendar books for 2021. One, serviceable one I bought at Staples, which I plan to use as my 'Mom' one with to-do lists, reminders, dentist appointments, etcetera.

The other one is a nice Edward Gorey agenda book that my sister gave me for Christmas and I want to do something with it. It has a lot of nice artwork itself, some of which I've never seen before.

Ideas:

A diary (I've never been very good at keeping a diary but the daily section is small).

A creative journal (for my own poems. Or for things that inspire me or things I like.)

A crafting journal (I have my miniature coffee shop).

I have heard of gratitude journals. I don't know much about them other than the obvious.

Do you have/keep New Year's resolutions?

I suppose I could use it to keep track of resolutions but that seems a bit, well, sad, because I'd like it to be fun and resolutions are always a bit awful.

Anyway, if you do something with a journal or have any ideas about any of this, drop me a comment.

Comments

[debriswoman]

An interesting question...
I have failed many many times to sustain a written journal/ diary
I have a slim 2 year diary which simply has set dates and work related events and time tables, but has a few items stuffed into a plastic sleeve , which I am loathe to remove

I kept a sort of gratitude journal for a while in darker times, trying to find something positive each day, but it petered out...

A sketching journal is the only one I have persisted happily, if somewhat erratically, with. One was filled with sketches of the Oregon/Washington trip, and included sketches from photos on my return. One lasted 3 years and was a scribble mix of text and sketch...all done on scene...and covering local trips as well as holidays...just started a new one this year. I have an older incomplete one, which spanned 10 years or more, when the offspring limited sitting with a pen. And I have one which I record things at home in, flowers, bark, favourite green shoe, anemones drawn with different pens/pencils.

I was daunted at first by books on sketch journals, re the quality and skill displayed, but then carried on regardless.

Oh...and do personalised needlepoint cushions count as a form of journaling? A bit unwieldy, perhaps...

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Yeah, I hear you on the failing to keep a diary thing. I want to set my expectations very low and manageable so that I don't end up feeling any failure related to this. I mean, there's no good reason to feel that way.

Ah, the sleeve! My mom journal has a double sided pocket and that's one of the reason I like that brand/style. And, believe it or not, I told you that I lost that chocolate wrapper (the apple one) but I didn't! I am doing my Big Clean (I haven't even finished my bedroom *sigh*) and found it. I had cut it and tucked it in the sleeve of the 2020 journal and that's where it was. I was so happy I hadn't thrown it out.

Yeah, I want to try the positivity/gratitude thing but (see above) I am keeping my expectations low.

Ha, ha! Here I am imagining you toodling about with a needlepoint cushion under your arm and sewing 'milk, bread, toilet paper..' on it.

[debriswoman]

Well done re wrapper location:-)

Re lowering expectations...
I recall the wider organisation I work for, looking at fixing stress, by promising to recruit many more of us, then to recruit a few more, then to simply reduce folk leaving, then proposed handing out packs at meetings containing gratitude journals and chocolate buttons, with links to meditation apps... helpful gestures, but...

And yes...embroidered shopping lists, for those with more time than sense...

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Yes, one doesn't like think one doesn't know oneself, if that makes sense. I like those wrappers. I know I like those wrappers. And I don't remember any tantrum of late strong enough to warrant me bin it. But I couldn't find it. For a while.

Oh, Lord. That sounds like an episode of The Office! *look at the camera and stare*

[debriswoman]

Not that I object to chocolate buttons...